MBA Admissions Mashup: FT Rankings and R2 Next Steps

Every Wednesday, we share a round-up of the latest news from MBA admissions blogs at the top business schools. This week, we take a look at reactions on the Financial Times ranking, why one shouldn’t allow one’s misperceptions to cause a missed opportunity as well as some updates from Michigan / Ross and UCLA Anderson regarding next steps in the process.

With the release of this year’s Financial Times MBA rankings, INSEAD took first place for the second year in a row, while Cambridge / Judge jumped five spots to 5th. As such Conrad Chua, head of MBA recruitment and admissions at Judge, reflected on this achievement on their admissions blog, but also cautioned applicants to not allow a school’s ranking reduce one’s MBA experience. “It is impossible to reduce an MBA experience in whatever school to just a number. Don’t ignore the rankings but make your own judgement of a school from speaking to its staff, its alums and students and make your own decision whether that is the right school for you.”

Similarly, as one shouldn’t take a number at face value, one shouldn’t allow for stereotypes to color one’s misperceptions of a program. Initially, first-year Harvard Business School MBA Kike Aluko was intimidated by HBS and fell into a “classic impostor syndrome trap.” On the HBS Voices blog, Aluko cautioned prospective students “who are concerned about applying to HBS I’d say this: that line of thinking can only hurt you. If you’re too intimidated by the people, you’ll only limit your opportunities to learn, grow, make friends, and maximize your experience to the fullest while you are here. If you’re too intimidated to apply, you’ll miss the chance to get in and come to HBS. I think that’s a chance worth taking!

For everyone eagerly awaiting decisions, there’s news afoot!

Soojin Kwon, Director of Admissions at Michigan / Ross, informed anxious applicants that “The final wave of Round 2 interview invitations went out last Friday, Jan 27. Applicants who didn’t receive an invitation will proceed in the evaluation process for the committee to determine whether to waitlist or deny.” Stay tuned! And, in the meantime, check MBA LiveWire (often) for real-time updates.

Meanwhile at UCLA Anderson admissions staff are hard at work processing Round 2 applications. “Our evaluations of Round 2 applications are proceeding rapidly, and interview invitations continue to flow out. February and March will be our busiest months of the season, as our admissions officers keep reading applications and our distinguished student Admissions Ambassador Corps conducts hundreds of interviews.”

That’s all for this week. Catch you next time on another MBA Admissions Mashup!